Understanding Organic Food

I’m not embarrassed to say that I have no idea what “organic food” really is.  I understand it from an abstract level, but if I had to define it, its attributes, and benefits, I’d be pretty hard pressed.    Fortunately for us, Savvy Health Girl breaks it down:

When grapes or a can of tomato sauce says organic or USDA organic, does that mean it’s more nutritious and healthier than other grapes or cans of tomato sauce that DO NOT say organic? In a paper published in October 2007 in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a team from the University of California, Davis, demonstrated that organically grown tomatoes have significantly more vitamin C than conventional tomatoes. Even so, the same study shows no significant differences between conventional and organic bell peppers. 
Hmm . . . I am sure if we polled people they would have a variety of answers based on their personal experiences and knowledge.

So what is organic? According to the Mayo Clinic, organic is defined as the way farmers grow and process fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don’t use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease. For example, rather than using chemical weedkillers, organic farmers may conduct sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch or manure to keep weeds at bay.

So what does this mean to you in deciding what type of foods to buy?

Continue reading Savvy Health Girl’s post for more, and tips for deciding whether to “go organic.”

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